Bacchus Marsh Tourism Association

Media

***For immediate release***   Wednesday 9^th November, 2011

Practise the Pip Spit Pucker

Just ten days out from the fifth annual Strawberries and Cherries Weekend and the Bacchus Marsh Tourism Association is encouraging visitors to pucker up and prepare for a fantastic event, celebrating its fifth year in 2011.

The Strawberries & Cherries Weekend celebrates the arrival of the strawberry and cherry season along the historic Avenue of Honour and throughout Bacchus Marsh.

Cherry Pip Spitting will be held at Jeff Jones Plants & Produce and judged by owner Glenda Jones.  Glenda says ‘Local cherries are already in season and we will have ample amounts set aside for cherry pip spitting. We encourage visitors to pucker up and have a go as they meander along the Strawberries & Cherries Trail, collecting trail stamps on their event programs to go into the draw for delicious local produce prizes and more”

Jenny Tassone, from Bacchus Hill Winery says a family friendly Saturday evening is lined up for those looking to relax after a busy day of pip spitting and experiencing the Strawberries & Cherries Trail, “For just a gold coin entry (donated to local Rotary), the Tourism Association along with Don Watson Transport, has organised an evening to remember. Bring a picnic blanket and picnic basket (no BYO alcohol) and kick back on the lawned area. As the sun sets over the valley, you can enjoy live rock n roll music by the Bar Bandits. The kids will love the giant jumping castle and face painting as they await the spectacular fireworks display at 9pm”
Venue: Bacchus Hill Winery - entry via O’Connell Road.  Gates open from 5pm”

Along with the usual favourites, such as fruit picking and strawberry & cherry inspired menus, other event features include even more live music throughout the weekend, including the magnificent 7 metre long, 3 metre high Australia Fair Grand Concert Organ on Sunday 20^th.  Main Street Bacchus Marsh will play host to musicians Victoriana Gaye, Jules Hutcheson, Nice Verdes, and Jimi Nare at various locations from 10 til 4 on Sunday.

The full event program & trail map, including details of the free bus circuit, are available now at all participating outlets across Bacchus Marsh, and at the Bacchus Marsh Visitor Information Centre.  Also online at www.visitbacchusmarsh.com.au

When: Saturday 19^th & Sunday 20^th November, 2011

Where: Bacchus Marsh Township, Various venues

Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 10am til 5pm.  Saturday night 6 -10pm

 

***For immediate release*** Wednesday 26^th October, 2011

Eat, drink & be cherry

The Bacchus Marsh Tourism Association has announced its 2011 event program for the

5^th Annual Strawberries & Cherries Weekend taking place on 19th and 20th November.

The festival celebrates the arrival of strawberry and cherry season across the Bacchus Marsh food bowl, providing visitors with a trail map along which they can experience a myriad of strawberry and cherry activities. Activities include fruit picking, cherry pip spitting competitions, wine & cider tasting, live music, fireworks, horse carriage rides and strawberry and cherry inspired treats. www.visitbacchusmarsh.com.au/strawberries-and-cherries/trail-details.html

The 2011 Strawberries & Cherries Weekend ups the ante on sweet decadence with a record number of local cafes, restaurants and bakeries offering local strawberry and cherry menus, treats and specials.

Bacchus Marsh Tourism Association Chair and strawberry farm owner David Durham says “A growing number of Bacchus Marsh cafes and restaurants are taking part over the weekend. Visitors along the strawberry and cherry trail come in to experience our country lifestyle and to taste the abundance of locally grown strawberries & cherries. That might be via pick your own activities, or spending the afternoon at our local eateries”

A sample of this sweet tooth heaven includes house-made strawberry and cherry pies at Mona’s Café along the Avenue of Honour, a themed menu at Bacchus Hill Winery & Restaurant, strawberry petit fors at Angelo’s Bakery, strawberry & cherry cakes and muffins at the eclectic Baby Black Café, hot waffles with local strawberries at Cones n Candy, strawberry & cherry iced cupcakes at Floralevent, and sparkling with local strawberries at Flanagans Hotel.

Ballarat & Daylesford region 2011 Golden Plate Award winners Burke’s On Main will be offering a special Saturday night festival menu.

Says David Durham “For those who are planning to eat their way around our beautiful town, we are pleased to offer a complimentary Strawberry mini shuttle bus service that will stop every 15minutes or thereabouts along the Trail starting off outside the Bacchus Marsh V/Line Station. We encourage visitors to come out on the festival weekend, grab a Strawberries & Cherries Trail map, make use of the shuttle, and experience the beauty of Bacchus Marsh”

When: Saturday 19^th & Sunday 20^th November, 2011
Where: Bacchus Marsh Township, Various venues
Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 10am til 5pm.  Saturday night 7pm til 10.00pm
Check the website for details: www.visitbacchusmarsh.com.au

 

 

***For immediate release***   Wednesday 5^th October, 2011

 

Strawberries & Cherries Countdown Commences

When: Saturday 19^th & Sunday 20^th November, 2011
Where: Bacchus Marsh Township, Various venues
Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 10am til 5pm.  Saturday night 5pm til 10.00pm

Just six weeks out and counting - the not for profit Bacchus Marsh Tourism Association is pleased to announce that this year’s Strawberries and Cherries Weekend will be even bigger, better and brighter.

The Annual Strawberries & Cherries Weekend - Bacchus Marsh takes place on the third weekend in November each year, this year failing on the 19^th and 20^th of November.  The festival celebrates the arrival of the strawberry and cherry season along the historic Avenue of Honour and throughout Bacchus Marsh.

Bacchus Marsh Tourism Association Chair David Durham says that in 2011 the Tourism Association has focused on continued event growth, whilst staying true to the spirit of previous years.

“Following the success of the 2010 event and the achievement of 5000 visitors over the course of that weekend, we had a tough job ahead of us.  We are really thankful to again have a great group of sponsors on board, which means we can continue to provide many free family friendly activities for our local community and visitors alike as they meander along the strawberries & cherries event trail”

New features for the 2011 festival will include even more live music throughout the weekend, including the magnificent Australia Fair Grand Concert Organ. With a sound equivalent to a 20-piece band, the 7 metre long, 3 metre high organ will be a spectacular sight in the town centre on Sunday 20^th November.

2011 also sees the introduction of the ‘Strawberries shuttle service’ with thanks to a grant from Moorabool Shire.  The free festival mini-bus shuttle service will be available from 9am til 5pm over the festival weekend improving access to festival locations for community and visitors.  A shuttle will appear every 15minutes at event locations, and seeks to link the entire town, from the V/Line Station, through to the town centre, the Avenue and the Bacchus Hill Winery. (Seats are not guaranteed and no bookings taken).

“We are very excited about the ability to link the town with the free shuttle service. We are fortunate to live in such a unique location; this beautiful valley with an abundance of fresh locally grown produce right at our doorsteps.  It’s something we can often take for granted. We encourage our local community to come out on the festival weekend, and to make use of the shuttle and to experience the beauty of Bacchus Marsh through a tourist’s eyes”

The festival will feature an exciting blend of the old and new, with the return of the strawberries and cherries trail competition, with lots of new businesses on board, along with strawberry picking, cherry pip spitting competition, strawberry & cherry inspired menus, town centre entertainers and musicians, horse and carriage rides (Sunday only), the breathtaking Australia Fair Organ (Sunday only) jumping castle, wine and cider tasting, scones, sausage sizzles, live music, crafts, historic displays, and more to be announced shortly.

And last but not least, David Durham says that the Saturday night fireworks and music event will be back, and has evolved to ensure it is even more accessible and family friendly. “For a gold coin donation we encourage local families to come up to Bacchus Hill Winery from 6pm on Saturday night. Bring a picnic blanket and picnic basket (no BYO alcohol) and enjoy the views and music as the sun sets over the valley.  At sunset we will see the night sky light up with a spectacular fireworks display”

The full Strawberries & Cherries Trail Map will be launched a fortnight prior to the festival. Keep an eye on the website for details as the full program continues to evolve.  www.visitbacchusmarsh.com.au/strawberries-and-cherries.html

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